Means for utilizing perforated music-sheets for controlling automatic musical instruments.



No. 787.558. PATENTBD APR. 18, 1905.

V T. P. BROWN. I MEANS FOR UTILIZING PERPORATED MUSIC SHEETS FOR CONTROLLING AUTOMATIC MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

APPLICATION FILED DBO. 31. 1904.

UNITED STATES Patented April 18, 1905.

PATENT OFFICE.

THEODORE P. BROWN, OF WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO THE SIMPLEX PIANO PLAYER COMPANY, OF WORCESTER, MASSA- CHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF MASSACHUSETTS.

MEANS FOR UTILIZING PERFORATED MUSIC-SHEETS FOR CONTROLLING AUTOMATIC MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N0. 787,558, dated April 18, 1905.'

Application filed December 31, 1904. Serial No. 239.080.

State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Means for Utilizing Perforated Music-Sheets for Controlling Automatic Musical Instruments, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to that class of musical instruments which are controlled from rolls or strips of perl'oratedpaper.

The especial object of this invention is to provide simple, efficient, and practical means of adjustment whereby a music sheet or strip having a narrow margin may be used to control automatic instruments which ordinarily use music-strips of wider margins.

To this end this invention consists of the music-spool, having an adjustable pin, and of combinations of parts therein, as hereinafter described, and more particularly pointed out in the claims at the end of this specification.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a fragmentary view, partly in section, of the music-spool, showing the manner in which the adjusting-wrench is 'used in measuring and setting the pin. Fig. 2 is a detail view of the adjusting-wrench. Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view of a piece of perforated musicpaper having a narrow margin, and Fig. 4 is a similar View of a piece of perforated musicpaper having a wider margin.

In the automatic piano-players or similar musical instruments which are controlled by winding perforated music-sheets over trackerboards the, different manufacturers have adopted music-sheets of different widths.

In almost all of the perforated music which is now employed the sheets are cut with six perforations to the 'inch, and the only variations between the music-sheets employed by different manufacturers is the differencein the width of the margin which is left outside the perforations. For example, as illustrated in Fig. 3 of the drawings, one make of pianoplayers employs a music-sheet P, in which l have found in practice that it is possible to use the narrow-margin paper-such, for example, as shown in Fig. 3for the trackerboards which ordinarily use a wider-margin paper, and I have provided a simple and efficient adjustment for a music-spool and a setting-tool which may be employed for setting the adjustable pin of a music-spool, so that narrow margin paper wound on said spool can be used for controlling any of the other standard makes of piano-players or similar instruments which usually require a paper having a wider margin, and a musicspool having been once adjusted to adapt the same for use in connection with any particular tracker-board will be capable of being placed in the apparatus so as to always be brought to proper position without the use of additional parts, removable end flanges, or other parts than the spool itself.

Referring to the accompanying drawings and in detail, a music-spool constructed according to this invention, as illustrated in Fig. 1, comprises the ordinary roll 10, having end flanges 11. Screwed into one end of the spool and adjustable therein is the pin 13, having the ordinary driving flanges or wings and also having a gage-collar 14 and a threaded shank 15. hen the pin of the musicspool is screwed into its extreme position, the spool is adapted for use in connection with the tracker-board requiring music having the narrowest marginfor example, the music-sheet P, illustrated in Fig. 3whereas when the pin 13 of the music-spool is screwed out to an extended position, as shown by dotted lines, the music-spool will be adapted for use in connection with tracker-boards ordinarily employing music having a wider margin-for example, the music sheeet illustrated at P in Fig. I.

In order that a music-spool may be adjusted with convenience and accuracy, I have provided a setting-wrench 16, having a wrenchsocket 17, for engaging the extending Wings of the pin 13, and near its other end the wrench 16 is provided with graduations corresponding to a number of different standard makes of automatic piano-players.

In the practical use of this invention I have been enabled to employ one style of perforated music-sheet for controlling a number of difl'erent makes of piano-players. To do this, the threaded shank 15 of the pin 13 is preferably fitted tightly into the hub of the spool, and in order to place the music upon the market to best advantage each dealer who sells the music-rolls is provided with an adjustable Wrench. The music-rolls as delivered to the dealer are all adjusted for use in connection with tracker-boards requiring paper having the narrowest margin, and if any of the dealers customers wish to buy the music for use in connection with instruments ordinarily employing a more Widely margined paper it is simply necessary for the dealer to turn out the pin 13 of the roll to a position gaged to a graduation corresponding to the instrument in connection with which the customer desires to use the music-sheet. By

adjusting the music-spool in this manner the music-spool itself will be permanently set for use in connection with the particular instrument desired, and said spool will stay in condition for direct insertion and use in the desired situation without the employment of detachable parts, separate pieces, or other expedients.

I am aware that changes may be made in practicing this invention by those who are skilled in the art, and I do not Wish, there fore, to be limited to details which I have herein shown and described; but

What I do claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is

1. As an article of manufacture, a musicspool havinga pin adjustably mounted therein, and adapted to be set to extend different distances from the end of the spool.

2. As an article of manufacture, a musicspool comprising a roll having end flanges, and apin having a shank threaded into the end of the spool, said pin being provided with wings, and With a gage-collar to be located at different distances from the end of the spool when the spool is adapted for use in different instruments.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

THEODORE P. BROWN. Witnesses:

LOUIS W. SoU'rHoA'rn, PHILIP W. SOUTHGATE. 

